Developer contributions
Most visits to the Solent Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are made by people who live within 5.6 kilometres of them. Consequently, new homes built within that 5.6 kilometre zone are likely to lead to more people visiting the SPAs with a potential to have an impact on the birds. Legislation requires that measures must be implemented to mitigate that impact.
Housebuilders can provide mitigation themselves. They will need to satisfy the local planning authority and Natural England that their proposed measures will fully mitigate the impact of the development.
In most cases, it is more straightforward for a builder to make a developer contribution towards implementing the Bird Aware Solent Strategy. If you are planning a development and are considering meeting your mitigation requirements through the Bird Aware Strategy, but would like advice on how much developer contribution it would incur, please contact your local planning authority at your earliest convenience.